Caitlin Simmers experienced some teenage angst on Sept 6, but in a good way involving her competitive sporting nature, as she simply did not want her rival to "win everything".
That determination paid off as the 18-year-old became the youngest world surfing champion after winning the World Surf League (WSL) finals in southern California, while her American compatriot John John Florence claimed his third world title.
Simmers, from Oceanside near the finals venue of Lower Trestles, is on only her second year on the professional world tour.
Her win over Florida's 2023 world champion and Paris Olympics gold medallist Caroline Marks was the first world title for California in nearly 40 years.
"It all just came down to an hour and half of surfing and it just seemed like all my emotions in that whole year was in that hour," Simmers said after her win.
This story is from the September 08, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the September 08, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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